18-;5. ] GARDEN GOSSIP. 213 



crop sTonoi-ally, with tbo exception of somn parts of Keut and tlio neighbouring counties. 

 Small fruits havo boon most abundant, and of excellent quality; but Ntifs of all kinds have 

 yielded only a j^artial crop. The trees are generally clean and healthy, and promise well for 

 another year. 



2MnAT kind of Ileliclirj/sum furnishes tlie Neio White Immortelles of 



our bouquetists, and wliicli have found their way into the leading flower shops of 

 the metropolis' during the last season ? They are, in every way, a very great 



advance upon anything of the sort seen in this country before ; being large in size, and with 

 a centre well filled up, and of the purest " satiny " white conceivable ; indeed, for purposes 

 of which di-y flowers of the kind are generally put to, nothing can be more beautiful and useful. 

 Information on this point cannot fail to prove acceptable to all. 



^o fine a specimen of Ci/pripedium spectahile as that referred to in the 



following exti-act from a private letter of the late Mr. W. Barnes deserves to be 

 recorded. He wrote : — " Ci/pripedium spectahile is amongst the first of some fine 

 old plants now nearly forgotten. I originally had one plant of it, which I sold to Mr. Rucker 

 for 12 guineas — such a plant as I doubt had ever before been seen. This plant had thirty-two 

 stems, from 2 ft. Gin to 3 ft. in height, .and there were between thirty or forty blossoms upon it. 

 It was certainly magnificent, but it took me 19 years to grow it. This, howevoi-, I did not 

 mind, as the pleasure of seeing so beautiful a specimen grow np amply rewarded me for the 

 trouble. There is no great difficulty in managing it ; it only requires certain little attentions 

 at certain times." 



En the foremost rank as an autumn decorative plant must be placed 



Anemone japonica and its varieties. This interesting species, as well as its 



beautiful white variety, in particular, become really grand in the early part of 



October, established clumps bearing many branching spikes, ,34- to 4 ft. in height, literally 

 crowned with flowers. Notwithstanding the almost unparalleled beauty (as a hardy herbaceous 

 plant) of the chaste alabaster-white of Anemone japonica alba, it is rarely one finds it in a 

 garden, notwithstanding so much has boen written in praise of it during the past ten years. 

 The wonder is, that those Anemones are not much more grown to assist in furnishing a 

 supply of cut flowers at that season of the year. 



■ SThe great feature in the garden at Longlcaf^ as we learn from the 



Journal of Horticulture^ is the Large Vinery v^hich. has been recently erected. It 

 is 216 ft. long by 30 ft. wide, span-roofed with a lantern ridge, and 18 ft. from 

 the floor to the ridge. It is a fine structure, and with the exception of the large conservatory 

 at Chiswick, is probably the finest vinery in the United Kingdom. The Vines are all planted 

 inside, and are growing with great luxuriance ; but they are yet young, and have not pro- 

 duced fruit. This hoxrse, the design of the gardener, Mr. Taylor, and built under his direction, 

 is in accordance with his ideas of the requirements of good Vine-growing. 



SSEhat are called Medicated Garden Shreds are prepared from a strong 



patent webbing, covered with a composition which renders it medicated, so that 

 it will repel insects, although perfectly harmless to vegetation. Those who 

 prefer, as some do, the old-fashionod plan of training by means of nails and shreds, will bo 

 glad to hear of these useful articles, which are prepared of proper length for use. The decay 

 of woollen materials consequent on the moisture retained in their substance, is an evil which 

 is obviated by the use of the waterproof new shrod. Thoy are prepared by Mr. Lerro, of 

 Walworth. 



^ COERESPONDENT of the Gardeners' Chronicle who regards Double 



Chinese Primroses as much preferable to the single ones for ornamental purposes, 

 finds it best to raise them annually from cuttings, and adopts the following plan : — 

 As soon as the plants have done flowering thoy are jDlaced in a temperature of 55° at night, 

 with an advance of 10° by day ; in a temperature of 65° to 70° at night, they get drawn. 

 Any weak, sickly, or insufficiently grown plants should be repotted, removing as much old 

 soil as possiblo without injuring the roots ; others will be benefited liy a top-dressing. In 



